Suspension/Springs Upgrade
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 4,279
Likes: 82
From: North Strand, NMB, SC; Retired x 2 (US Army: 70-90 AD) (US Army: 91-16 DAC); yea, I'm old.
Suspension/Springs Upgrade
I need some advice on "upgrading" my "new-to-me" base '13 coupe suspension. My '05 coupe (Aug '05 to Oct '16) had the F55 suspension and I upgraded the stock sways to Z51 which helped immensely; the overall feel of the steering was tighter and the body roll was almost non-existent.
Fast forward to July this year when I picked up a base '13 coupe. Overall, the car is perfect with the exception of the suspension which rides smooth and dampens the imperfections in the road surface during the ride. However, when I get on it, the front of the car feels like it raises up more than my '05 with the F55 before the Z51 sways were installed.
I plan on getting Z51 sways but without the F55 option, will the front continue to raise up? If so, can I upgrade to stiffer springs without sacrificing ride quality?
TIA
Fast forward to July this year when I picked up a base '13 coupe. Overall, the car is perfect with the exception of the suspension which rides smooth and dampens the imperfections in the road surface during the ride. However, when I get on it, the front of the car feels like it raises up more than my '05 with the F55 before the Z51 sways were installed.
I plan on getting Z51 sways but without the F55 option, will the front continue to raise up? If so, can I upgrade to stiffer springs without sacrificing ride quality?
TIA
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,352
Likes: 568
From: Ventura County, Calif
Your F55 car had the same springs as your new '13 base car. So if you like that ride, don't mess with the springs. Switching to Bilstein HD or even Sport shocks might tighten things up to your liking without hurting ride much.
See what others say in the next couple days.
See what others say in the next couple days.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,601
From: Honolulu HI
Z51 Sways and Bilstein Sports as mentioned above. I've read the front spring on the base C6 is really soft in comparison to a Z51 spring (rears aren't as dissimilar), so you could always look into a Z51 front spring as well if the shocks/sways don't deliver exactly what you're looking for. Having said that though, a stiffer spring might reduce some of your ride quality.
Edit: Spring rates...
Base
Front - 420lb.....Rear - 657lb
Z51
Front - 526lb.....Rear - 645lb
Edit: Spring rates...
Base
Front - 420lb.....Rear - 657lb
Z51
Front - 526lb.....Rear - 645lb
Last edited by MTPZ06; Dec 19, 2017 at 10:08 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 304
Likes: 19
From: Valley AL
Mine rises up in front taking off which is good because it shifts weight to the rear for better traction but once in 4th gear it settles back down and is back to standard height around 125-130 mph.
So if yours does that I don't think you will have a problem.
PS You can always put front end limiters to keep the front end from lifting to high. Its simple as putting a chain from the bottom of the frame to the top of the a-arm. If you can find a place where you can come around the frame and go over the a-arm and back down around the bottom of the frame where the chain can't move and bolt the 2 pieces together. if not drill a hole in the frame and loop it around the top of the a-arm and bring it back and fasten both ends down jack it up to the max front rise you want and use the chain links to adjust just leave a couple of links over in case you have adjust the ride height again. A plastic coated steel cable will work but is harder to mount it. You can set the front end lift to any height you want it.
So if yours does that I don't think you will have a problem.
PS You can always put front end limiters to keep the front end from lifting to high. Its simple as putting a chain from the bottom of the frame to the top of the a-arm. If you can find a place where you can come around the frame and go over the a-arm and back down around the bottom of the frame where the chain can't move and bolt the 2 pieces together. if not drill a hole in the frame and loop it around the top of the a-arm and bring it back and fasten both ends down jack it up to the max front rise you want and use the chain links to adjust just leave a couple of links over in case you have adjust the ride height again. A plastic coated steel cable will work but is harder to mount it. You can set the front end lift to any height you want it.
Last edited by BowtieBilly1121; Dec 20, 2017 at 07:42 PM.
